Smock ruler construction



Oct. 18, 1966 B. c. MELLO SMOCK RULER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed March 3, 1964 2 F l G 3 INVENTOR Bl Q NCHE C. MELLO Z 0@%2,% m, fl ggfi Oct. 18, 1966 B. c. MELLO 3,279,075

SMOCK RULER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 3, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR BLANCHE C. MELLO BY aw; W044 V ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,279,075 SMOCK RULER CONSTRUCTION Blanche C. Mello, 38 Coolidge Road, Lynn, Mass. Filed Mar. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 349,064 15 Claims. (Cl. 33-104) This invention relates to a ruler for smock stitching.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel ruler construction for marking cloth with guide marks to facilitate smock stitching of the cloth.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view otone side of said embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the opposite side of the ruler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of a longitudinal edge of the ruler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevation of the ruler of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows the back of a piece of cloth marked with the ruler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows the front of the cloth of FIG. 5 after it has been smock stitched;

FIG. 7 shows the back of another piece of cloth with two rows of tracings of the ruler of FIG. 1 to make, for example, pillow covers.

With reference to the figures, 10 is a ruler embodying the present invention. Ruler 10 comprises an elongated, flat molded piece of plastic such as polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene, etc. having a plurality of projections 12 along its longitudinal side edges, as shown, the projections 12 along one side edge being staggered with respect to those along the opposite side edge. The ruler may be made of metal, wood, cardboard or other material rather than plastic but plastic is preferred.

Each projection 12 comprises a first edge portion 14, a second edge portion 16, a third edge portion 18 and a fourth edge portion 20 forming an internal first corner 1, an external second corner 2, an external third corner 3 and an internal fourth corner 4.

First edge portion 14 extends outwardly at an angle, e.g. 45, to the longitudinal center axis of the ruler from its inner end 4 to its outer end 1. The outer end 1 of first edge portion 14 extends outwardly at an angle (e.g. 135 to edge portion 14 and preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ruler into second edge portion 16 and forms with the inner end of such second edge portion the internal first corner and mark point 1. The outer end 2 of the second edge portion 16 extends inwardly at a sharp angle to second edge portion 16 (e.g. about 45) into third edge portion 18 and forms with the outer end of third edge portion 18 the external third corner and mark point 2. The inner end 3 of third edge portion 18 extends inwardly at an angle to third edge portion 18 (e.g. about 135) into fourth edge portion 20 and forms with the outer end of fourth edge portion 20 the external third corner or mark point 3. Edge portion 20 is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of ruler and parallel to second edge portion 16. The inner end 4 of fourth edge portion 20 forms with the inner end 4 of the first edge portion 14 of the next adjacent projection 12 the internal fourth corner or mark point 4 of about 45, as shown.

In the embodiment shown the third edge portion 18 is substantially perpendicular to the first edge portion 14 and the first and third corners 1 and 3 respectively lie on a line which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ruler.

It is noted that due to the staggering of the projections on opposite sides of the ruler, first edge portions 14 on one side of the ruler lie opposite third edge portions 18 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 on the other side, the second edge portion 16 of each projection on one side of the ruler lies on about the same line as the fourth edge portion 20 of a projection on the opposite side, and the fourth edge portion 20 of such each projection lies on about the same line as the second edge portion 16 of another projection on the opposite side of the ruler adjacent the first mentioned projection on such opposite side.

Preferably, the outermost corners 2 on one side of the ruler lie on a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ruler and the outermost corners 2 on the other side of the ruler lie on a line which is also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ruler.

Preferably, the innermost corners 4 of the projections on both sides lie on about the longitudinal center line of the ruler but they need not.

In effect, the corners 1 and 4 of each projection form a first pair of marking points lying on a first line 14 which is inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the ruler (45 in the drawings) and the corners 2- and 3 form a second pair of marking points spaced from the first pair and lying on a second line 18 which is inclined at an angle from such longitudinal axis (45 in the drawings) in an opposite direction from the first line and which is inclined at an angle to the first line in the drawings). Consequently, each side of the ruler has a plurality of repeating and alternately arranged first and second pairs of such marking points. Each pair 1 and 4 has an inner marking point 4 and an outer marking point 1 Whereas each pair 2 and 3 has an inner marking point 3 and an outer marking point 2.

The outer point 1 of each pair 1, 4 and the outer point 2 of the pair 2, 3 on one side of such each pair line substantially on a third line 16 which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ruler. The inner point 4 of such each pair 1, 4 and the inner point 3 of the pair 2, 3 on the other side of such each pair 1, 4 lie substantially on a fourth line 20 also perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ruler and spaced from third line 16.

The inner points 3 of the pairs of points 2, 3 and the outer points 1 of the pairs of points 1, 4 lie substantially on a line which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ruler.

The outer points 2 of pairs of points 2, 3 lie substantially on a line also substantially parallel to the longitudi nal axis of the ruler.

The particular angles shown in the drawings and the particular dimensions (the scale of the drawings is threefourths size) are not critical so long as the two pairs of points are spaced from each other and are arranged in repeating alternating relationship in the longitudinal direction of the ruler and the line joining the points 1 and 4 of each pair of points 1 and 4 is inclined at a substantial angle from the longitudinal axis of the ruler in a direction opposite to the line joining the points 2 and 3 of each pair of points 2 and 3, whereby such lines are at a substantial angle to each other.

The ruler is used by placing it on the back side of the cloth 22 to be stitched and tracing along the longitudinal edges thereof across the cloth, as shown in FIG. 5.

Thereafter, it is only necessary to stitch mark point 3 of each pair 2, 3 traced on the back of the cloth to point 2 of such pair and point 1 of each pair 1, 4 to point 4 of such pair along one side edge of the tracing starting at one end of the tracing and working toward the other end and then along the other side edge of the tracing to achieve the smock stitching shown in FIG. 6. More specifically, starting at one end of one side of the tracing, point 3 of the first pair of points 2, 3 is stitched to point 2 of such pair followed by stitching point 1 of the next adjacent pair of points 1, 4 to point 4 of such pair followed by sti-tching point 3 of the next pair of points 2, 3 to point 2 of such next pair and so on to the other end of the tracing. This is done by fastening the thread, as by an overstitch, at 2 of the first pair 2, 3, picking up 3 of such pair with the needle and carrying it back to 2, securing 3 to 2, carrying the thread along to point 4 of the next pair 1, 4, fastening the thread at 4, picking up 1 of such pair on the needle and carrying it back to 4 followed by securing 1 to 4, and so on across the cloth. This results in a folding or pleating of the cloth which provides the smock effect.

The left end of the ruler, as viewed in FIG. 1, has a projection 24 to provide room for a hem at the end of the line of stitching. Preferably, stitching is commenced at this end.

In making pillow covers, two rows of smock stitching are many times desired. In such case, two parallel rows of tracings are made on the back of the cloth (eg with the longitudinal center lines of the rows about 18 inches from each) by the ruler, as shown in FIG. 7. In such case, the first row is made with one side of the ruler up and the otherrow is made with the other side of the ruler up but with the hem projection 24 at the same end, as shown in FIG. 7, so that adjacent outer points 2 of the two rows lie on the same perpendicular line to the longitudinal axes of the rows. The two rows are stitched in the manner set forth above. However, the stitching results in an attractive, folded effect between the two rows.

Although in the drawings, the mark points 1,2, 3 and 4 are formed by corners, the ruler may instead be provided with holes therein at the points 1, 2, 3 and 4 for marking the cloth at such points. Also, the edge portions of the ruler forming the corners need not be straight.

It is not intended that the invention be limited to the embodiment shown and described, such embodiment being for illustrative purposes only. The invention is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. A ruler for smock stitching comprising a flat, elongated member having a first set of two repeating pairs of marking points arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said ruler on one side thereof and a corresponding second set of marking points on the other side thereof, each ofthe sets comprising a repeating first pair of marking points and a repeating second pair of marking points spaced from said first pair and located in alternating relation with said first pair in the longitudinal direction of said ruler, said first pair lying on a first line which is inclined at an angle from the longitudinal axis of said ruler, said second pair lying on a second line which is inclined at an angle from said longitudinal axis in a direction opposite from the direction of said first line and which is inclined at an angle from said first line and one point of each two pairs of marking points from the first.and second sets thereof, on opposite sides of said ruler, being coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof.

2. A ruler according to claim 1, one point of each of said pairs of points being located further outwardly in a direction from side to side of said ruler than the other point.

3. A ruler according to. claim 2, the outer point of each of said first pair and the outer point of the second pair on one side of said each first pair lying on a third line which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and the inner point of said each first pair and the inner point of the second pair on the other side of said each first pair lying on a fourth line which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and spaced from said third line.

4. A ruler according to claim" 3, said first and second lines being substantially perpendicular to each other.

5. A ruler according to claim 3, the outer points of said first pairs of points and the inner points of said second pairs lying on a fifth line which is substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the ruler.

6. A ruler according to claim 5, the inner points of said first pairs of points lying on a sixth line substantially corners along a longitudinal side edge of said ruler and formed by edge portions of said side edge, the points of each of said first pairs of points being joined by a first edge port-ion of said side edge extending fromjthe inner point of said first pair to the outer point thereof along said first line, the outer point of ,said each first pair of points and the outer point of the second pair of points at one side of said each first-pair being joined by a second edge portion of said side edge extending along said, third line, the points of each of said second pairs being joined by a third edge portion of saidside edge extending along said second line, and the inner point of said each first pair and the inner point of the second pair at the other side of said each first pair being joined by a fourth edge portion of said side edge which extends along said-fourth line.

8. A ruler according to claim 7, the opposite longil tudinal side edge of said ruler also having two repeating pairs of points formed by corners and edge portions arranged in thesame manner as, but in staggered relation with, said pairs of .points, whereby saidfirst and third edge portions of said opposite side edge lie opposite the third and first edge portions respectively of said first mentioned longitudinal side edge, each of said second edge portions of said opposite edge lie on the same line as each of said fourth edge portions of said first mentioned edge and each of said fourth edge portions of said.

opposite edge lie on the same line as said second edge portions of said first edge.

9. A ruler for smock stitching comprising a flat, elongated member with opposite longitudinal edges, each longitudinal edge of said ruler having a plurality of projections extending therefrom, each of said projections having a first edge portion extending outwardly at an:

angle to the longitudinal axis of said ruler from an inner end to an outer end, said outer end extending outwardly at an angle to said first edge portion into a second edge portion forming at its inner end an internal first corner with said first edge portion, the outer end of said second edge portion extending inwardly and at an angle to the longitudinal center line of said ruler and to saidvsecond.

edge portion into a third edge portion, the. outer. end of which forms with the outer end of said second edge porsides of said ruler being coincident with the longitudinal center line thereof. a v

10. A ruler according to claim 9, the projections on one longitudinal edge of said ruler being arranged'in staggered, relation to the projections on the other. longitudinal edge thereof.

i 11. A ruler according to claim10, said first and third edge portions being substantially perpendicular to each other.

12. A ruleraccording to claim 10, said second and fourth edge portions each being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ruler.

13. A ruler according to claim 10, said first and third corners lying substantially on a line which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said ruler.

14. A ruler according to claim 10, the second edge portion of each of said projections at one side of the ruler lying substantially on the same line as the fourth edge portion of a projection on the opposite side of said ruler and said fourth edge portion of said each projection at said one side lying on the same line as the second edge portion of a projection on the opposite side of said ruler adjacent said first mentioned projection on the other side of the ruler.

15. A ruler according to claim 10, the first edge portions on one side edge of the ruler lying opposite the third edge portions of the other side edge of the ruler.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 136,395 9/1943 Deckrnan 33--174X 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 530,570 8/1954 Belgium. 816,877 5/1937 France.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

HARRY N. HAROIAN. Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RULER FOR SMOCK STITCHING COMPRISING A FLAT, ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A FIRST SET OF TWO REPEATING PAIRS OF MARKING POINTS ARRANGED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID RULER ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND A CORRESPONDING SECOND SET OF MARKING POINTS ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, EACH OF THE SETS COMPRISING A REPEATING FIRST PAIR OF MARKING POINTS AND A REPEATING SECOND PAIR OF MARKING POINTS SPACED FROM SAID FIRST PAIR IN THE LONGIIN ALTERNATING RELATION WITH SAID FIRST PAIR AND LOCATED DINAL DIRECTION OF SAID RULER, SAID FIRST PAIR LYING ON A FIRST LINE WHICH IS INCLINED AT AN ANGLE FROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID RULER, SAID SECOND PAIR LYING ON A SECOND LINE WHICH IS INCLINED AT AN ANGLE FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE FROM THE DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST LINE AND WHICH IS INCLINED AT AN ANGLE FROM SAID FIRST LINE AND ONE POINT OF EACH TWO PAIRS OF MARKING POINTS FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND SETS THEREOF, ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID RULER, BEING COINCIDENT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF. 